Volution Sakura wheels

[doug]

Anybody have an opinion on Volution wheels? I just saw a great deal at airdynamicracing.com for a set of 17" Volution Sakura wheels WITH tires for $499. Seems like a killer deal, but I've never heard of these wheels before-- they look very nice, though.

The Volution web site mentions "lightweight design" or something like that so I e-mailed them about the weight, but they never responded. I also e-mailed airdynamicracing and they didn't respond either. They're both in SoCal (Escondido to be exact) so I think one may be a front for the other. Anybody have any insight? Oh, and here's a link.

 

[jtmcinder]

Yes: blech!

1) Those are only 17 x 7. So you won't be able to mount 245/40/17s or even 235/45/17s safely. In fact, I'm not sure that I'd put 225/45/17s on them. That is why the "free" tires you get with them (probably something like a PepBoys Futura or an old Kumho 711) are only 205s. In other words, they are wheels for a bleeping Honda.

2) They have a "lightweight design." Wait, you say. Isn't that a plus? No, it isn't. "Lightweight design" is advertizing-speak for the fact that they look like some wheels that actually are lightweight. It does not mean that they are lightweight. In fact, these lumps of crud weigh in at more than 20# each. And they're only 7" wide.

Therefore: blech!

- Jtoby

 

[doug]

Good info-- thanks. Where did you find the wheel weight? I didn't see it anywhere. And yeah, I missed the part about the width only being 7.

Looks like I'll probably be going with the Falken Torque 5, then. Looks 99% the same, but should be better made.

 

[jtmcinder]

Google is your friend. Yes, like most friends, sometimes it won't shut up, but if you know how to wade through crap (and many threads in this section provides lots of practice on this), then you can find most of what you need.

- Jtoby

 

[doug]

You must be much better at Googling than me. I had searched there several times and found very little, besides web sites in Japanese.

One follow-up question, if I may: Is a 7" width on a 17" wheel really considered narrow? It seems pretty common for 17s.

 

[jtmcinder]

Whether 7" wide is narrow or wide depends on where you started. If you have a Honduh, then moving up to 205s on a 7" wheel is phat. If you have a DSM, then only moving up to the same is just silly. Our cars are 3200#, front-heavy pigs. We need 245s, so we need an 8"-wide wheel.

- Jtoby

ps. if you use Japanese-to-English translator programs, you will be able to get more information (as well as some great amusement when said program screws up)

 

[doug]

Originally posted by jtmcinder
If you have a DSM, then only moving up to the same is just silly.

Thanks again for the info. I'm probably really showing my ignorance here, but I thought the stock 16s were 6" wide.

Do you have a recommendation for a good lightweight 17x8, or maybe even 7.5?

 

[jim97gst]

but I thought the stock 16s were 6" wide.

The stock 2G GST wheels are 16X6. The 2G GSX wheels are 17X6.5. The stock 205/55/16 tires on the GST are really pushing what you should run on a 6" wide wheel.

 

[jtmcinder]

Forgive my use of an ambiguous pronoun (and I'll forgive you for assuming I didn't know the stock wheel sizes).

When I wrote "the same" I was referring to the aftermarket 7"-wide wheels.

Since you asked, my favorite 17x8 (mixing in price, weight, strength, and looks) is the ASA IS6, which comes in a +40mm offset in our bolt pattern. Click on my profile to see what they look like on a 2G that is lowered about 1.5". I got them from Tire Rack and they wear 245/40/17 Kumho MXs. They are my summer street tire, as well as being my autoXing tire in STX (until they changed the rules and effectively kicked out all 2G DSMs).

- Jtoby

 

[jim97gst]

I got them from Tire Rack

I've been to the tirerack website and don't see the ASA IS6 wheel for my application (2G GST - I assume wheel/tire clearance is the same across all 2Gs). I also don't see any ASA wheels that are 17X8 for our application. Is the IS6 a discontinued model? Will tire rack tell you that a 17X8 will not fit our application? (which is guess is kinda true since you probably have to roll the rear fenders if you're lowered/have soft springs).

doug - I don't have aftermarket wheels yet myself, but 2 17X8 wheels I really like are the Enkei RPM-2 and RPF-1. The RPF-1 costs a little more, but it's a little lighter. Looks of course are subjective. They only come in 35 or 45 offset though also, so I guess that's not ideal.

 

[jtmcinder]

Tire Rack's database seems to tell them that 17x8s don't fit, because their database doesn't know about rolling the fender lip. I'd call them up and ask for a list of 17x8s that come in a +40mm offset with 5x114 bolts. Then use the website to get an idea of what they look like and weigh. Maybe the IS6 is discontinued ... I've had them for three years.

- Jtoby

 

[doug]

Based on the very knowledgeable input so far (I really appreciate it!), I've now come up with a new front-runner candidate in my wheel search. It's only a 17x7.5, but will probably be good enough for me, I hope. More input is of course very welcome:
Arceo Dynostar

 

[jtmcinder]

For either a 225/45/17 or a 235/45/17, those will be fine. The latter size might require a rolled rear fender lip, but that's easy enough to do. With that said, I'd put a bit more time into locating a 17x8 that you like. That .5" more wheel width really makes a difference to lateral grip.

- Jtoby

 

[Cesar]

Someone had posted this a while back, I though I pass it on.

 

[jim97gst]

I've got a question about the Enkei wheels I mentioned above. I really like the RPF-1s. They are 17X8, weigh 15 lbs, are supposed to be very strong due to Eneki's "rim rolling technology", cost around $250 each, and I really like the looks. But they only come in 35 or 45 mm offset. If I decided to get these wheels, would I be better off getting the 35 mm offset and dealing with the increased fender clearance problems, or getting the 45 mm offset and using a 5 mm spacer, and possible have to put in longer wheel studs.

Also, I emailed tirerack a few days ago about all of their 17X8" wheels in a 5X114.3 bolt pattern, with a 38-42 mm offset. I never got a response. You can't even search their website by wheel size. You can only tell them what kind of car you have, and they'll tell you what fits.

 

[jtmcinder]

Tough decision. If you are sold on these wheels and are sure that you're never going to run anything wider than a 245/40/17, then I guess I'd go with the 45s and a spacer. But if you were tempted to run 255/40/17s, then the 35s might be perfect.

If you're willing to spend that kind of money, have you looked at the 17x8 SSRs. I think you can get those in something closer to +40. And they are really strong, given that the whole wheel is shot-peened. Strong lips are the key when you hit pot-holes with low-profile tires; strong wheels are what you need if you are going to be turning at 1g or better.

- Jtoby

 

[doug]

In other news, I think I'll be continuing my wheel search. I e-mailed Arceo about the Dynostars, and they said the 17" x 7.5 wheel weighs 27 lbs.

 

[jim97gst]

If you're willing to spend that kind of money, have you looked at the 17x8 SSRs.

I have looked at the SSRs and I love them, but they're $360/each $1440/set from tire rack. I've actually found a place that sells the RPF-1s for $220/each $880/set with FREE shipping. So that's a difference of $560 for the set, which is significant. I already think $220/wheel is about the max I want to spend.

The SSRs are around 2 lbs lighter and are stronger overall.

strong wheels are what you need if you are going to be turning at 1g or better.

I didn't realize that a wheel would deflect significantly under lateral load. Interesting. I always thought of it as "if it didn't break or bend, you're good". I plan on running on street tires, so I don't think I'll be turning at 1g. Something good to consider though.

 

[jtmcinder]

If you can get the 17x8.5 RFP1s (which are the width that come in a +40 offset) for $220 each, then do not pass go ... just go fot it. Those are only 16# each, are strong, and can hold a 245/40/17 perfectly, giving better grip (due to the wheel width) than a 17x8.

If you can only get the 17x8s (which are either +45 or +35), then we're back to that spacer question, yadda yadda yadda.

- Jtoby

 

[jim97gst]

Jtoby you're a genius. They can indeed get the 17X8.5 RPF1 with 40 mm offset. They're only $5 more than the 17X8. I'm just waiting for my current tires to wear down a little more. I'll probably order my wheels in a few months. That'll give me some more time to keep looking around to make sure that's what I want, and also keep an eye on the used market. Then I've got to convince my wife that my car needs a $900 set of wheels. I don't think I'll be able to slip them on unknowingly to her like I did with the RMDSM sway bars. Anyone know of a wheel that looks EXACTLY like a stock 97 GST wheel that's 17X8.5 and lightweight .